Metallurgical furnace.



No. 817,099. PATENIBD APR. 3, 1906.

I G. H. BENJAMIN.

METALLURGICAL FURNACE.

APPLIOATION FILED saw. 18. 1905.

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G. H. BENJAMIN.

METALLURGICAL FURNAGE.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT.1B 1905.

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72 WITNESSES; 2 2/ liven???" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HILLARD BENJAMIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METALLURGICAL FURNACE- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3. 1906.

Application filed September 18, 1905. Serial No. 279,060-

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HILLARD BEN- JAMIN, a citizen of the United. States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallurgical Furnaces, of which the following is a spec iiication.

My invention relates to metallurgical furnaces, and is herein embodied as a rotary melting-furnace of the regenerative type.

The invention is desi ned primarily to ef feet a saving in fuel antv increase the output of the furnace by causing the escaping products of combustion from a melting-chamber thereof heated directly by the fusing flame to pass through and heat a similar chamber before escaping by way of a regenerative chamber to the stack.

A further object of the invention. is to control communication between the chambers in order that one may be emptied and re-,

charged while the other is being heated, thus making the operation continuous.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate a furnace suitable for carrying my invention into effect. I wish it understood,

however, that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as various changes may be made therein or the invention may be adapted to other types of furnaces operating in. substantially the same manner to produce practically the same result.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the furnace. Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the valves adjusted to cut out one mciting-charnbor and open communication between the other and the regenerative chambers. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section on the line s s of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line a s of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 8" s of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section showing the furnace provided with. an. air-blast to adapt it for use a converter. Fig. 8 is a crossseetional view on the line a s of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a similar view on the line 3 s" of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 is a detail section on the line 8 s" of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the furnace shown is provided with melting-chambers 1 1, each formed within a cylindrical body or receptacle 2, which is mounted upon rollers 3 0f supporting-standards 4 and adapted to be rotated byhand or power. The cylindrical bodies or receptacles 2' 2 are arranged end to end and communicate through a passage 5, which may be closed when desired by a slide 6. Each of the melting-ehambersis'provided with a charging-opening 7, closed by a cover 8, which is hinged to be swun back clear of the same, as shown in Fig. 4, w on the contained metal is being poured. The cover is designed to serve as a casing for a rotary hopper 9, which is arranged to feed metal into the melting-chamber in suitable quantities and at the same time prevent the escape of the hot gases or the entrance of air through the charging-opening thereof during the operation. The hopper 9 is preferably in the form of, a cylinder, which is fitted to rotate in the cover and recessed upon opposite sides to provide pockets 10 10 to receive the metal to be fed into the meltin -chamber. The ho per is rotated or oscil ated to discharge t e contained metal by means of a lever '11. From the outer ends of the melting-chambcrs flues 12 12 lead to regenerative ehamhers 13 13, which by means of a valve 14 may be thrown into communication with an air-supply flue15 or a flue 16, leading to the stack or outlet for the waste products of combustion. from the furnace. Openin into each of the flues 12 and. 12 in line wit the open ends of the melting-chambers I have shown a fuel-supply pipe 17, which may terminate in either a jet-tube or an injector, depending upon the relative pressures at which and air are supplied. The passage 5 between the meltingchambers is connected through lines 18 18 with the flues 12 12, and by means of valves 19 19* either or both mciting-chambers may be connected in series relation with the regenerative chambers.

As shown in Fig. 1, for example, air entering by way of the flue 15 is heated in passing through the regenerative chamber 13 and combines with. the gas, oil, or the like supplied by the pipe 17 to form a highly-inflammable mixture which is burned in the melting-chamber 1, heating the contained metal and passing by the only available outlot-i,. -e., the passage 5, as the fines 18 18 are closed by the valves 19 Ill -into the adjoining melt ing-chambcr 1 and thence by way of the flue 12,rcgencrative chamber 13, and flue 16 to the stack. Assuming, now, that the 0 eration 1just described is continued unti the meta in the chamber 1 has reached the fusing-point and is ready to be oured into molds or other suitable reeeptac es, the passage 5 is closed by the slide 6, and the valves 14 and 19 are shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, the result a being that communication between the chamher 1 and the other chambers is cut off, while the chamber 1 is connected in series relation With the regenerative chambers, and by now cutting oil the fuel-supply from the burner at the left and starting up the burner at the right air from the ilue 15, passing through the regenerative chamber 13 and flue 12, will combine with the supply of gas or oil for the fusing-flame in the chamber 1*, and the escaping products of combustion will pass therefrom by Way of the flue 18 through the regenerative chamber 13 and flue 16 to the stack. The required adjustment of the valves for cutting out the chamber 1 and connecting I the chamber 1 ivith the regenerative chambers will be apparent 'from the. foregoing description.

The furnace, as above described, is adapted particularly for melting copper or other metals; but it may obviously be employed for other purposes,if desired. In Figs. 7 to 10, for example, I have shown the receptacles 2 2 shaped and provided-with twyers 20 to serve as converters suitable for treating iron or copper. The air-blast employed may be hot or cold and accordingly supplied either through the regenerative chambers and fines 21, leading therefrom to the twyers, or from the source of supply directly to such flues. I have shown the twyers located in the bottom of the chamber; but it will be understood that they may be arranged in the sides thereof, if preferred.

The operation, advantages, &c., of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. 1

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. A furnace comprising a plurality of rotatable receptacles, regenerative chambers cooperating therewith, and means for connecting one or more of the receptacles in series re ation with the regenerative chambers.

2. A furnace comprising a plurality of rotatable receptacles, regenerative chambers cooperating therewith, and means for closing communication between one or more of the receptacles and the regenerative chambers.

3. A furnace comprising a plurality of rotatable receptacles provided with requisite inlets and outlets, regenerative chambers com mon to the several receptacles, and means for opening and closing communication between one or more of the receptacles and the regenerative chambers. I

4. A furnace comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged end to end and independently rotatable, cooperating regenerative chambers, and requisite flues and valves for connecting one or more of the receptacles in series relation with the regenerative cham bers.

5'. A furnace comprisinga plurality of rotary receptacles arranged end to end and each provided With a valved charging-opening, cooperating regenerative chambers, requisite flues leading to and from the regenerativechambers, and controlling-valves for connecting one. or more of the receptacles ill series relation with the regenerative chambers.

6. A furnace comprising a plurality of rotary receptacles arranged end to end and communicating through a. valved passage, coo crating regenerative chambers, flues lea ing from the ends of said receptacles to the regenerative chambers, and valves controlling the fines.

7. A furnace comprising a plurality of rota table receptacles, means for heating tl1,18- ceptacles, cooperating regenerative chambers, and means for connecting one or more of the receptacles in series relation with the regenerative chambers.

8. A furnace comprising a plurality of communicating receptacles,mounted to be rotated independently of each other, means for heating the receptacles, cooperating regenerative chambers, and means for connecting the receptacles individually in series relation with the regenerative chambersl 9. A furnace comprising a plurality of rotatable receptacles, means for heating the receptacles, means for feeding material into said receptacles while maintaining the same effectively closed against the escape of gas therefrom, regenerative chambers cooperating with said receptacles, and means for connecting one or more of the rec ptacles in series relation with the regenerative chambers.

10. A furnace con'lprising a plurality of rotatable receptacles, means for heating the receptacles, means for holding material to be charged into said receptacles, regenerative chambers cooperating with said receptacles, and means for connecting one or more of the receptacles in series relation with the regenerative chambers.

In testimony whereof I affix my in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE lllhllARll lll'lNJlNllN. Witnesses:

FRANK OCoNNoR, M. G. CRAWFORD.

signature 

